"Where the hell have you been?" Toni asked.
Jake unsnapped his leather coat, pulled it off, and set it gently on a chair. "Working, dear," he answered, smiling.
Toni gasped when she noticed the dried blood on Jake's left temple. "What happened to you?" She came over to Jake and pushed his head sideways as a mother would to inspect her son's road rash after taking a spill on his bicycle.
"I had a little misunderstanding with Burt Simpson. He thought my sideburns were a bit too long."
"Go ahead and make fun," Toni said.
"Okay, truthfully, I'm pretty damn sick of getting shot at. And I don't see that the end is near. By the way, Kurt, your buddy Leo is a good guy."
"He's a character, though," Kurt said, as he rose from the deep chair. "You want a beer, Jake?"
"Thanks, I could use one."
Toni twirled her hands toward herself. "Go on. What else happened."
Kurt returned from the kitchen with a few beers and handed one to Jake.
"Hungarians," Jake stated, and then took a satisfying chug of beer.
"Hungarians?" Toni asked. "What about Hungarians?"
"In Germany Herb and I ran into a few Hungarians. At the time I wasn't sure what they were looking for. But today my new friend Burt told me a good story about Hungarians. That's who Dalton and Simpson were selling to."
"Why sell to the Hungarian government?" Kurt asked.
"I don't think they were selling to the government. Simpson isn't the most intelligent guy in the world. He saw dollar signs in his eyes and could have just as easily been selling to the Pope as far as he knew. Dalton is the brains behind the Roosevelt chips, but I don't think he handled what took place in Germany. I'm not sure who's behind that. I know what Bundenbach Electronics is trying to do, but I don't know who wants them to succeed."
"What about the Genoa bombing?" Kurt asked.
"Shit! I almost forgot. Toni, give your friend Bruno a call and have him pick up Burt Simpson at the Hotel Capri, room 303, in Naples," Jake said.
"Simpson bombed those four guys?"
"Kind of. He delivered the car to the young boy. Simpson told me that a strange, tall Hungarian gave the bomb to him with the instructions. I didn't have time to get more, even though I enjoyed the effort. I'm sure Bruno will get everything he needs. I've softened Simpson considerably."
"Thanks, Jake. I owe Bruno."
Jake shrugged his shoulders. "No problem."
Toni picked up the phone and instinctively punched in Bruno Gallano's number. In her quickest Italian, Toni explained as much as she could to her old friend. When she finished, she said "Ciao" and then pursed her lips in a mock kiss through the phone and hung up. She paused for a moment with her hand still on the phone.
"What's the matter?" Jake asked.
She thought for a second. "Herb!" Toni said, as she picked up Jake's message beeper on the table next to the phone. "Herb sent you a message through the Italian switch of the European Messaging Service."
Jake gently received the small beeper from Toni. "I love these gadgets," he said.
Jake had purposely left the device behind because he knew he couldn't get a signal onboard the aircraft carrier. Herb's message was simple but revealing: "Lassen Sie sich Zeit."
"What does that mean?" Toni asked, leaning over Jake's shoulder.
"It means take your time. But what he means is, get your ass in gear back to Germany. I'll have to call him."
"Does he have secure capability?" Toni asked.
Jake smiled. "No. Herb's a German Customs Agent working out of a tiny office in Bonn. He's close to retirement, and the agency doesn't have much use for his investigative approach. When he first found out about the technology transfer, his superiors thought he was full of shit. In fact, they only humor him now because they don't fully understand the possible impact, and they don't think he's capable of uncovering anything significant."
"Do you?"
Jake hesitated. "I've known Herb for quite a few years. Not well, but we've worked together. I trust his judgment. I trust him. Besides, his disdain for bureaucrats is equal to mine."
"So, I guess you'll have to call like normal people," Toni said smiling.
Jake smiled as he propped the phone against his ear and punched in Herb's home number. "Herb? Yeah." A pause. "No shit? Yeah I know the slimy bastard. I had a feeling about him from the first time I met him. From Rome? What was he doing here? He's from Portland. He's an executive vice president with Teredata. Yes, this does change things. I'm not sure how yet. No, don't confront him. Keep an eye on him until I get there. Okay. What?" Jake listened intently. "Who the fuck did it? Gunter? I'm going to kick his ass this time. Yeah, thanks, I'll try to. See you in the morning."
Jake hung up the phone with a crash and then looked toward Toni and Kurt. Toni had moved closer to him and Kurt had gotten up from his chair.
"Well?" Toni asked.
"Not good!" Jake pinched his nose. He knew he had to maintain his strength up front. Whatever his feelings, whatever weaknesses, he had to get stronger and not let anything get in his way.
"Is everything all right?" Toni asked softly, putting her hand on Jake's shoulder.
"Do you remember my friend Walt Kaiser, the Polizei out of Wiesbaden"?
"Yes. We met once at that New Year's party a few years back. The one in Frankfurt."
"Yeah, well Gunter and his men have put him in the hospital in Koblenz."
"How?" Toni asked.
"I don't know. He and his men beat him up pretty bad. Herb said he'll make it. But I've about had it with Gunter. I never liked the bastard. And now I've got a good reason to kick his fat ass." Jake felt his ears warm and his face become flush as though he were still a school boy enamored by some beautiful new girl. But he knew this heat was not from passion. A pain wrenched in his stomach as he took a sip of his beer and tried to enjoy it.
All three stood there, not knowing what to say.
Finally, Kurt said, "Do you need some help, Jake?"
Jake looked at him. "I'm sure I could use you, Kurt, but we still have to keep an eye on Dalton here. We know he's pretty much in charge of this operation. We need to close him down for good. Besides, I'd like to know who he's selling to, and what else he might be giving away. You need to stay here and finish your case. Toni's office really needs you. Since Cecil has been gone, they've been short handed."
Kurt nodded his head as if taking an order from his superior.
"What about…" Toni stopped short.
Jake knew that she could go to Germany if she wanted. She could work anywhere in Europe. Even if he said no, she could shadow and back him up.
"Kurt could use your help, Toni," Jake said, before she could get her question out. "The Hungarian bomber is still out there. I'm sure Bruno will catch him, but what about before he does? It's better to have two sets of eyes." Before Toni or Kurt could respond, Jake swirled his leather jacket on. He felt the butt of his gun and then ensured the two extra fifteen-round clips were in his inside pocket. "I've got to go," he said bluntly.
Jake noticed Toni staring into his eyes. He wanted to kiss her and hold her tight and then make love through the night. But that would have to wait, he thought. He zipped and snapped his coat half way and then started toward the door. He stopped with his hand on the curved door latch and turned to Toni. What the hell. Romans never waste an opportunity to kiss a pretty girl. He walked over to Toni, kissed her gently on both cheeks, and then meshed his lips firmly with Toni's moist red lips. Toni's chest heaved with a slow deep breath. Finally, Jake slowly released his lips and looked into Toni's eyes.
"I'll come back to Rome if you want me," Jake whispered softly.
Toni smiled. "I want. Be careful."
"Always."
Jake shook Kurt's hand. "Get Dalton."
"You can count on it, Jake."